Rangers & Devils on brink of playoff extinction

SENATORS 2
RANGERS 0

PANTHERS 3
DEVILS 0

So much for all of that talk that the second round playoffs would be a war between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. It appears that neither team will make it out of the first round of the playoffs. For all of the Rangers and Devils fans who complain that their teams don't get enough attention in a town dominated by the NFL, MLB and NBA, take note; if your teams continue to stink it up when it counts, no one will pay attention to your team.

The expectations for both franchises this season were very high, but now it could be over. For the Rangers, this is a big punch in the stomach. They were the best in the Eastern Conference during the season, but, as we all know, it doesn't matter until you get to the playoffs.

The Rangers were soft offensively. They took 41 shots on goal yet couldn't find a way to get even one puck into the net. Give credit to Ottawa's Craig Anderson, who shut down the Rangers offense and has flustered Broadway's front line all series.

Ottawa's first goal came from Jason Spezza in the first period, and that goal stood until the final minute of the game when the Rangers were forced to play with an empty net because of a penalty. For good measure, Spezza scored again with the empty netter.

The Rangers are now down 3-2 and now head up to Ottawa for game six. This was a huge loss for New York because they were at home; now they must win two hockey games if they want any shot at the second round. Don't bet on the Rangers.

Meanwhile, as for the Devils: Their 3-0 loss was another example that the great career of Martin Broudeur is, in all likelihood, coming to an end. While he is still a great goalie, he surrendered two goals in 32 shots and has not played well in this series, highlighted by New Jersey's choke job on Tuesday.

The Devils offense was nonexistent against the much younger Jose Theodore, who shut them out for the first time in this series.  New Jersey now trails 3-2, with the series heading back to Newark. Expect New Jersey to force a game seven, but it will likely end right there.

Another hockey season goes out with a whimper in New York.